The Raptors stopped Doncic and bowed the Mavericks

The Raptors accustomed the world to special defenses in the era of Nick Nurse. The strategy against the Mavericks was simple: they just wanted the ball out of Luka Doncic’s hands, which proved enough to beat Dallas 105-100.

Doncic did what he had to do, dividing the game without forcing situations, but his teammates couldn’t be as aggressive as they should have been, which Toronto capitalized on as they recovered from a two-game losing streak.

Augie Anunoby and Fred VanVleet each had 26 points for the winners – who were without Siakam, Barnes, Atsua, Bandon and Porter – with Chris Bouche adding 22 points and 13 rebounds.

For Dallas, Doncic was held to 24 points (8/15 shooting) and 9 assists, with Dorian Feeney-Smith adding 16 points (but fouling on the final drive for a score of 103-100) and Spencer Dinwiddie adding 15 points.

THE DODECALPTA: 24-29, 54-52, 81-73, 105-100

birds of prey: Young 4 (1/6 shooting, 6 rebounds), Hernangometh 10 (2 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Anunoby 26 (2 3-pointers, 9 rebounds, 5 turnovers), VanVleet 26 (7/18 shooting, 3/ 9 3-pointers, 6 rebounds, 7 assists), Trent 9 (3/12 shots, 1/5 three-pointers), Bushe 22 (13 rebounds), Colocco, Burts 6, Flynn, Dotwin 2

MAVERICKS: Finney-Smith 16 (3), Bullock 4, Powell 8, Dinwiddie 15 (3 3-pointers, 7 assists), Doncic 24 (2 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, 9 assists), Kleber 11 (1 3-pointers, 5 rebounds), Hardaway 4, McGee 2, Wood 10 (2 threes, 6 rebounds), Green 6, Campasso